Utility hook



F. E. WALLMAN 2,725,253

UTILITY HOOK Nov. 29, 1955 Filed May 2, 1952 IN VEN TOR. FRANK E. WALLMAN AT TO EN EYS Patented Nov. 29, 1955 UTILITY HOOK Frank E. 'Wallman, South Walpole, Mass.

Application May 2, 1952, Serial No. 285,556

2 Claims. (Cl. 29426) This invention relates to article handling devices, and more particularly to an improved folding hook.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved folding hook device which is simple in construction, which is easy to open and close, and which may be employed for use in handling bundles, cartons and other articles to eliminate moving these articles by hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved foldable hook device for use in handling bundles, cartons, bags, and other articles, said hook device being inexpensive to manufacture, being safe to use, and being sturdy in construction.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of an improved article-handling hook device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the hook device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the improved hook device is designated generally at 11 and comprises an elongated main body 12 of suitable sturdy material, such as molded plastic material or the like, said main body being formed with the top arm 13. The top arm 13 is formed at its end with the small, substantially axially located recess 14. The opposite end of the body 12 is formed with an open ended axial slot 15 having the inclined front Wall portion 16 and the recessed portion 17, as shown in Figure 4. Designated at 18 is a hook member having the elongated, tapering shank 19 and the hook portion 20. The end of the shank 19 is pivotally secured in the slot 15 by a transverse bolt 21. Designated at 22 is a coil spring which surrounds the bolt 21, said spring having one end anchored in the body 12 and having its other end secured to the shank 19, biasing said shank in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, whereby the shank is biased against the sloping surface 16.

Designated at 23 is a lever pivoted at 24 in the recess 17, the lever having a first hooked end 25 directed inwardly and having a second end 26 directed outwardly and extending through an aperture in the body 12, as shown in Figure 4. Secured on the end of the arm 26 is a button 27, said button being located in a recess 28' formed in the body 12 and being arranged to allow substantial pivotal movement of the lever 23 in a clockwise direction from the position thereof shown in Figure 4. Mounted on a transverse pin 28 in the top end of the recess 17, as viewed in Figure 4, is a coiled spring 29 having one end bearing against the lever 23 and having its other end bearing against the opposite wall of the recess 17, thereby biasing the lever 23 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, but being yieldable to allow manual rotation of the lever 23-clockwise by the inward movement of the button 27, as will be presently described.

The pivoted end of the shank 19 is formed with the re spective notches 29 and 30 which are respectively lockingly engageable by the end of the arm 25 to lock the shank 19 either in a first position, such as that shown in full line view in Figures 1 and 4, wherein the shank 19 is engaged against the sloping surface 16, or in a second position, as shown in dotted view in Figures 1 and 4, wherein the shank 19 is extended substantially in alignment with the body 12. In the position shown in full line view in Figures 1 and 4, the hook portion 20 is received in the recess 14 of the arm 13, whereby the point of said hook portion is housed and whereby injury to the user is prevented. To unfold the hook 18 to the dotted line position thereof shown in Figure 1, it is merely necessary to press inwardly on the button 27, whereby the arm 25 is disengaged from the locking recess 29 and the shank 19 may be manually rotated to the dotted line position thereof shown in Figure l, in which position the arm 25 moves into the locking notch 30 and secures the hook in the extended position thereof. In said extended position, the device may be employed for handling cartons, bags, packages, and similar objects, without requiring gripping of these articles by hand, and consequently greatly facilitating the handling of the articles. When use of the device is not required, it is merely necessary to press inwardly on the button 27, whereby the spring 22 rotates the hook 18 to the folded position thereof, shown in full line view in Figures 1 and 2.

While a specific embodiment of an improved articlehandling hook device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article-handling device comprising an elongated main body formed at one end wtih an open-ended axial slot, an arm at the other end of the body projecting laterally of the body, a hook member having a shank pivotally secured at its end in said slot for swinging movement in the plane of said slot, a locking lever within said slot and pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said body and having one end lockingly engageable with the end of said shank, said arm being formed at its outer end with a recess in which the point of said hook member is receivable, a button on the other end of said lever and operable exteriorly of said body to release said one end from said end of said shank, and spring means operatively connected to said main body and said hook member for biasing said hook member toward a position wherein said point is seated in said recess.

2. An article-handling device comprising an elongated main body formed at one end with an open-ended axial slot, an arm at the other end of the body projecting laterally of the body, a hook member having a shank pivotally secured at its end in said slot for swinging movement in the plane of said slot, a locking lever within said slot and pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said body and having one end lockingly engageable with the end of said shank, said arm being formed at its outer end with a recess in which the point of said hook member is receivable, a button on the other end of said lever and operable exteriorly of said body to release said one end from said end of said shank, spring means operatively connected to said main body and said hook member for biasing said hook member toward a position wherein said point is seated in said recess, and additional spring means operatively connected to said lever and said main body for 3- biasing said one end of said lever into engagement with 2,461,941 said end of said shank. 2,463,706 2,547,273 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,214,660 Darling Sept. 10, 1940 5,465

4 Sutton n. Feb. 15, 1949 Martineau Mar. 8, 1949 Le Febvre et a1. Apr. 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1907 

